A stunning development has occurred in the American Jewish community, as they divide over the proper response of Israel to the October 7 Hamas Massacre of 1,400 Israelis and some foreigners.
Originally, there was unity about the outrage of the worst loss of Jewish life since the Nazi Holocaust of World War II.
But Israel’s decision to invade the Gaza Strip and wage full scale war against Hamas has led to a bitter division within Jewish families and within generations.
Many younger American Jews are critical of the right wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and are calling for a cease fire despite the intention of Hamas to destroy Israel and kill all Jews worldwide.
Pro Palestinian sentiment, as they now become the victims of Hamas, is widespread.
Most American Jews of the older generations are much more supportive of Israel’s war strategy, but even within families, there are bitter division, something one could not have imagined.
The sympathies of young people, and people on the left generally, rests with those who are seen as disadvantaged. Conditions in Gaza have often been described as exceptionally bleak by numerous international aid organizations. Reporters and commentators on MSNBC often refer to it as an open air prison.
Some of the media and polling on this issue presents a false binary. You can be pro. Israeli and anti Netanyahu and you can be pro Palestinian and anti Hamas.
Vox has an article talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years and talking about recent dehumanizing rhetoric some Israeli politicians have used towards the Palestinian people in general.
http://www.vox.com/world-politics/23933707/israel-palestine-hamas-gaza-nakba-displacement-refugees-history
That rhetoric from those government officials sounds like something you would hear on Fox.
That rhetoric is why there is concern over how Netanyahu is handling the war and what he’s going to do afterwards.
https://www.vox.com/2023/10/20/23919946/israel-hamas-war-gaza-palestine-ground-invasion-strategy
Vox has an article about the words that explain, define, and obfuscate the conflict.
https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/10/24/23930269/israel-hamas-gaza-palestine-occupation-zionism-displacement
This article from Rolling Stone, in 2021 shows the viewpoints of young Jewish Americans. One of them, Jeremy Slevin, who, at the time, was a senior communications director for Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), questions some religious beliefs.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/israel-palestine-jewish-american-support-1172309/
Both of our Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, are amongst several Senate Democrats calling for a cease fire.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/senators-cessation-hostilities-gaza
A Fox host made anti-Semitic remarks against Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/03/media/fox-mark-levin-holocaust-cnn/index.html
Some polling since the war shows Biden losing Arab Americans.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reacts to an ad made by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) accusing President Joe Biden of supporting a Palestinian ‘genocide.’
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/11/05/israel-gaza-rashida-tlaib-ad-bernie-sanders-sot-sotu-vpx.cnn
Bernie said that Obama spoke about the conflict. Here is what Obama said –
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/05/obamas-warning-to-biden-israel-00125437
White House warns Israel against reoccupying Gaza as Netanyahu signals what a post-war strip could look like.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/politics/white-house-israel-gaza/index.html
Biden tells Bibi 3-day fighting pause could help secure release of some hostages.
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/07/biden-netanayhu-gaza-hamas-ceasefire-pause-hostages
Rep. Rashida Tlaib got censured by the House.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/politics/rashida-tlaib-censure-vote/index.html
Personally, I feel that Tlaib and Omar go too far in what they say. President Biden, on the other hand, has attempted to act as a fair and thoughtful mediator in the conflict.
I’m in agreement with you, Leia.